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It’s fair to say that anyone looking for a family-friendly set of wheels is somewhat spoilt for choice. With svelte four-door coupés at one end of the spectrum, chunky SUVs at the other and all manner of estates, MPVs and even pick-ups in the middle, there’s something to suit whatever image you’re trying to portray.

But we’re forgetting a class that has been providing people with compact, sensible and affordable transport for decades: the family hatchback. Indeed, if you’re looking for something sensible, the Kia Ceed makes a pretty good case for itself, due in part to its industry-leading seven-year warranty.

There's more, too. At its launch, this current Ceed was touted as being more entertaining to drive than rival cars such as the Skoda Octavia, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf, thanks to an all-turbocharged engine line-up and suspension that Kia claims was designed to suit European tastes and roads.

Does the Ceed have the talents to triumph over its more established rivals or tempt you out of your fashionable SUV? That’s something we’ll investigate over the next few pages. And remember, if you want to buy a Ceed or any other new car on sale, have a look at our New Car Buying service for some hefty savings.